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Friday, 10 May 2013

Martin Skrtel: The Decline

Hey guys,

It’s been a while! Due to university dominating my life, I
haven’t been able to write any more woeful articles, but now, Uni is finished, I’m
looking for a job and I have more time on my hand, so I’m back!

Muhahah. Suckers..

Anyway, so as the title quite clearly suggests, this article
is about Martin Skrtel.

Now, Big Martin Skrtel is an intriguing case. Last season,
he was the main man for Liverpool. He was voted the clubs player of the year
last season and his form earned him a new deal. The Slovakian international was
also linked heavily with the likes of Man City too.

He has gone from being a certain starter for Liverpool to being
a mere squad player and arguably a liability for the reds.

But why has Martin Skrtel fallen so fast? Or has his decline
been something which has been overstated by fans or the media? Let’s have a
look at his stats.

Red = worst, Green = Best

Ok, so, looking at the stats, it is quite clear, Martin
Skrtel’s defensive stats have dramatically decreased this season.

It is most concerning for Liverpool that the crucial
defensive stats such as the ground win percentage, aerial win percentage and the
defensive errors are far worse this season. But why is this the case? Why has
Liverpool’s most consistent player of last season, had his form shattered this
season?

There are a number of theories behind the reason why, the
likes of the guys at the Anfield Wrap
and Chris Machin of The Red Men TV
suggest that the constant tweaking of managers and playing styles has effected
Skrtel’s confidence and has therefore unsettled him.

This is a credible theory, over the past four seasons,
Martin Skrtel has played in Rafa Benitez’ pragmatic defensive setup, then the
season after, Skrtel was in a more rigid Hodgson system. While under Dalglish,
things changed again. However, the most contrasting change in styles occurred
this season. Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers have become a far more attacking
side.

Rodgers’ more flexible, attacking Liverpool, is a system
where both full backs bomb on forward and arguably, less players are given
defensive discipline. This could have had an effect on Skrtel’s game. Prior to
this season, he was often given much more protection and as a unit the reds
looked far more stable. This could be why Martin Skrtel has struggled this season.
He is now playing in a system which demands far more from him as an individual,
while he gets less protection from his team mates.

Perhaps this makes sense, think about it, often this season,
many teams have found space between the Liverpool midfield and defence lines. The
consequence of this is that Skrtel and his centre back partners have more
players to track from various scenarios in play. Whether it would be for
example central attacks or attacks from out-wide.

But is it all down to Martin Skrtel or Brendan Rodgers’ system?
I think it’s a mix. Some argue it also comes down to personality. Rodgers has
suggested on a number of occasions that the reason Jamie Carragher is in the
side, is due to his marshalling and leadership skills. And the reality is some
defenders thrive in the responsibility of having to defend in systems which leave
them more exposed to attacking threats.

So I think the decline of Skrtel is due to him not being
suited to the Rodgers demands of play. As last season demonstrated, if
Liverpool were better structured defensively, and Skrtel was given more
protection by the midfield, his quality would shine through.

One major criticism of Skrtel has been his performances verses
the bigger, more imposing strikers. Rodgers infamously suggested that Skrtel
and Liverpool made the Oldham’s No. 9 Matt Smith look like Didier Drogba and
the reality is, Liverpool and Skrtel did.

However, I think Skrtel’s performances against the more physical
strikers has always been something of a concern. Last season, in the FA Cup
Final, Martin Skrtel was bullied by Didier Drogba. Drogba won most of the
aerial duals and dominated the space and exploited him time after time.

But this season, due to Skrtel being less confident and
uncomfortable, these showings against the bigger strikers have stood out even
more. One looks at his performances versus Villa and Southampton, against Benteke
and Lambert, he struggled incredibly.

As I’ve mentioned before, Skrtel is finding himself more
exposed in this defensive setup, so his protection against these bigger more aggressive
target men is much more limited. This means he is often left to sink. But there
have been times, where he needs to help himself more, sometimes, the likes of
Benteke and Lambert have bounced off Skrtel.

But as the summer arrives and the imminent departure of
Jamie Carragher looming, where do Liverpool go from here? Where does Martin Skrtel
go from here?

Should Liverpool keep him? Should Skrtel look for a move?

For me, Liverpool should sell. The player does not look comfortable
in Rodgers’ system.

What really concerns me about Martin Skrtel is how
uncomfortable he looks in the Liverpool setup. As the stats clearly suggest his
awkwardness in the system has affected his defensive contribution.

When one looks at Martin Skrtel on the ball, he appears to
lack the composure, the comfort and the ease of mind to play it out from the
back in a concentrated fashion. And the worst thing is, I don’t think Skrtel himself
believes that he can comfortably pass it out from the back and be someone who
can retain the ball, dribble past the striker to create space and have more
options to pass to.

Martin Skrtel’s decline has been staggering. I don’t think
many would have expected him to be behind Jamie Carragher at the start of this
season. It is clear, Skrtel is yet more proof that even defenders can struggle to
adapt to particular systems. It’s unfair to label Martin Skrtel a poor
defender. The reality is, he is a good defender, in the right system. Sktrel
demonstrates how Liverpool are still in transition, there are still players in
the side who don’t fit the Rodgers demands of playing.

So, to conclude the three reasons why Skrtel has struggled
this season:

Liverpool less compact as
a defensive unit

Liverpool more attack
orientated than defensive orientated

Martin Skrtel’s confidence
has been knocked due to being dropped and this has not been helped by him
being incompatible to Rodgers style of play.

5 comments:

I agree with the points you've made but I do think his decline is overstated. And I think it's overstated due to Brendan Rodgers' poor man management and rotation policies.

Whilst it's pretty clear Skrtel hasn't been as good as last season, he hasn't been shambolic either. But Rodgers appears to be a firm believer in form - if he picks a player, it's usually for several games in a row. He's the complete opposite of the Benitez years where each week we'd find a tinkered starting eleven. Think Sterling & Suso post-Christmas, Downing pre-Christmas, Henderson only ever plays clumps of games, Andre Wisdom, etc. Sterling in particular has been thought off as having tailed off this season despite a phenomenal start, when in reality, he just hasn't been given the chance by Rodgers. It's the same with Skrtel, IMO.

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